XN000022-1979-11-12 — Page 4

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1979

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ANYONE WHO IS IN DOUBT AS TO HOW TO COMPLETE THE FORM MAY CALL ON, OR TELEPHONE, THE DEPARTMENT AT 1 GARDEN ROAD (TEL. 5-249021)- 22 FENWICK STREET, NEW MERCURY HOUSE (TEL. 5-281424)- OR 24-34 HENNESSY ROAD, TAI SANG COMMERCIAL BUILDING (TEL. 5-284037) WHERE ASSISTANCE WILL GLADLY BE GIVEN. ASSISTANCE MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED AT ANY OF THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICES OR DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

ANY PERSON REQUIRING AN EXTENSION OF TIME IN WHICH TO COMPLETE THE FORM SHOULD APPLY IN WRITING TO THE COMMISSIONER WITHIN 28 DAYS OF RECEIPT.

THINKING IS NECESSARY TO MEET SOCIAL CHANGES

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YOUNG PEOPLE MUST LEARN TO THINK IN ORDER TO BE PREPARED TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF OUR RAPIDLY CHANGING SOCIETY, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE JOINT GRADUATION CEREMONY OF LINGNAN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND LINGNAN COLLEGE AT THE CITY HALL, HE SAID: THOSE WHO HAVE NOT LEARNED TO THINK WILL FIND THAT THEY HAVE TO WITHDRAW FROM THE MAJOR PROBLEMS OF SOCIETY, THAT THEY WILL NOT BE LIVING THEIR LIVES BUT MERELY WORKING OUT AN INSIGNIFICANT EXISTENCE.

+ IF YOU ARE EQUIPPED WITH THIS ABILITY TO THINK CREATIVELY, YOU WILL FIND YOURSELVES WELL PREPARED TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF OUR RAPIDLY CHANGING SOCIETY, MR. TOPLEY SAID.

EDUCATION IS NO LONGER TRAINING THE YOUNG TO LIVE IN A CERTAIN SOCIETY, BUT TRAINING THEM TO DEVELOP THEIR MENTAL POWER TO THE FULL AND TO ADAPT TO THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT WHICH EMERGES IN THE FUTURE, HE SAID.

MR. TOPLEY SAID IF WE ARE UNCERTAIN OF THE SHAPE OF THE FUTURE, WE SHOULD HELP THE PUPILS TO REALISE THAT EDUCATION IS AN ON-GOING PROCESS OF ADJUSTMENT AND THAT LEARNING WILL CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

+ IF WE CONSIDER THAT EDUCATION HAS A RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOCIAL TRAINING, PUPILS MUST BE TAUGHT TO SEE THE BEARING OLD IDEAS HAVE ON NEW PROBLEMS. THEY WILL NEED TO DISCOVER ANSWERS ON THE IR OWN, HE SAID.

MR. TOPLEY FELT THAT BOTH SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN TRAINING PUPILS HOW TO THINK FOR THEMSELVES.

+WE MUST HAVE THINKING TEACHERS BEFORE WE CAN TRAIN THINKING PUPILS, HE SAID.

TRAINING CHILDREN TO THINK IS DIFFICULT AND TIME-CONSUMING MR. TOPLEY SAID, AND TEACHERS MUST FIRST BE AWARE THAT THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN THE ABILITY TO THINK ORIGINALLY EVEN AMONG PUPILS OF THE SAME STREAM.

+THE FIRST STEP IS TO APPRECIATE THIS, TO FEEL IT PERSONALLY AND TO TREAT EACH PUPIL AS AN INDIVIDUAL RATHER THAN AS PART OF A GROUP, HE SAID.

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